StemCell Therapy

It is an honor to help support the Arthritis Foundation and to work closely with the Orthohealing Center.

POWAY, Calif. (PRWEB) November 26, 2019

Personalized Stem Cells, Inc (PSC), a human adipose-derived stem cell company, recently sponsored an event put on by the Arthritis Foundation and hosted by Dr. Steven Sampson and Dr. Danielle Aufiero of the Orthohealing Center in Los Angeles, California. The event, which took place on October 23, 2019, highlighted the ongoing efforts to promote research, educate the public, and provide support to people with arthritis.

Event attendees included medical doctors, physical therapists, chiropractors, and other medical professionals. Dr. Sampson presented current and evolving regenerative and stem cell therapies, including PSCs FDA approved clinical trial to treat osteoarthritis in the knee with a persons own stem cells. The Orthohealing Center is one of several approved clinical trial sites and is currently screening and enrolling patients in the clinical trial.

PSC CEO, Michael Dale, stated, It is an honor to help support the Arthritis Foundation and to work closely with the Orthohealing Center. The Foundation and the Orthohealing Center have worked together for many years advocating and spreading awareness for arthritis patients.

PSC provides stem cell therapy for clinical trial investigators and their patients, working within the FDA cell therapy regulations in order to assure consistent manufacturing, quality tested cells, as well as clinical trial and manufacturing oversite for safety and efficacy. PSC was founded by Robert Harman, DVM, MPVM and Michael Dale, both of whom also co-founded VetStem Biopharma and are both experienced serial entrepreneurs.

About Personalized Stem Cells, Inc.Personalized Stem Cells was formed in 2018 to advance and legitimize human regenerative medicine. This privately held biopharmaceutical enterprise, based near San Diego (California), offers qualified physicians who enroll, an FDA compliant autologous stem cell product (from patients own fat tissue) for use in FDA approved clinical trials. PSC is driving development and adoption of stem cell and regenerative medicine within the FDA-IND process by providing cGMP manufactured, quality tested cells, and well-defined clinical trials. PSC has licensed a portfolio of over 70 issued patents in the field of regenerative medicine.

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Personalized Stem Cells, Inc. Sponsors Arthritis Foundation Event in Los Angeles - PR Web

Injections of stem cellseither a patients own or from a donorinto the hearts of people with cardiac conditions has been shown in some cases to improve heart function. How the cells help has been a mystery. A paper in Nature today (November 27) shows that activation of an innate immune response can explain, and even recapitulate, the beneficial effects of stem cell transplants in the hearts of mice.

The findings suggest stem cells may not be required to boost cardiac repair, but some researchers argue that, by finally providing a mechanistic explanation, the study supports the use of cell therapy.

This work is paradigm-shifting because it demonstrates a mechanism to explain a perplexing phenomenon that has intrigued cardiologists as a result of decades of cardiac stem cell trials, writes cardiologist Jonathan Epstein of the University of Pennsylvanias Perelman School of Medicine in an email to The Scientist. Now the focus can shift from injecting cells into the heart to understanding how to modulate the immune system so that heart function is improved, continues Epstein, who was not involved in the study.

The idea of applying stem cells, derived from the bone marrow or elsewhere, to the heart to fix damage caused by myocardial infarction or cardiovascular disease has been the subject of intense pre-clinical and clinical investigations for the best part of two decades, and yet the field is highly controversial. Aside from the retractions of fraudulent papers that misguided the larger heart regeneration community for years, the observed benefits of cell transplant therapies are generally modest and, because the underlying mechanism of repair is unknown, there is a lack of consensus about which of the many types of stem cells and delivery approaches might work best, as well as which types of patients may benefit.

A better knowledge of the mechanism would drive better clinical trial design, says Jeffery Molkentin, a cardiovascular biologist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center who led the latest project. Indeed, he says, if mechanistic studies had been done up-front then we would have been much further along in the clinical trials [at this point].

For transplanted cells to produce functional benefits in the heart, its likely the cells would need to remain there after injection. So Molkentins team studied a variety of stem cell types injected into mice to see if any of them ever engrafted in the heart, he says. We had a list of five of the most prominent ones and none of the five ever engrafted, and they were all cleared within less than two weeks and sometimes within five or six days. But, the team did spot something else happening. In all [cases], he says, there was this really noticeable inflammatory response.

The team then showed that whether they injected live stem cells, dead stem cells, or zymosana potent activator of the innate immune systeminto the hearts of mice that had been given an experimental myocardial infarction, functional improvement of the heart occurred. By contrast, an injection of cyclosporinewhich suppresses the innate immune systemafter the cell delivery eliminated the beneficial effects.

The team went on to show that in the injured hearts of mice that received cell therapy or zymosan treatment there was evidence of improved muscle mechanical properties as well as scar remodeling and reduction. Both treatments recruited certain subtypes of macrophages that experiments indicated were driving this remodeling.

A heart attack triggers innate immunity automatically, prompting the essential scarring without which the heart would rupture, says Molkentin. The cell therapy (or zymosan treatment), being delayed by one week, does not exacerbate this initial inflammation, he says, but instead somehow realigns the healing process and makes for a better scar.

It seems like it optimize[s] the properties of the area around the scar and the contractility of that area, Molkentin says, but we dont know exactly why yet. . . . Were trying to figure this out.

Whatever the precise mechanism, the study shows the importance of the immune system, says Paul Riley of the University of Oxford who studies regenerative medicine but was not involved in the research. Its certainly very important for the field to be aware of this [finding], he continues. It will stimulate further interest in targeting or modulating, or thinking about the way the immune response . . . can effect more optimal function and repair after acute myocardial infarction.

If the results hold true in humans, it could have implications for any future trials in which patients might receive immunosuppression to prevent cell rejection, suggests Riley. Although its not thought any such trials are currently underway, according to Molkentin and Joshua Hare, a cardiologist and stem cell researcher at the University of Miami who was not involved in the study, if embryonic stem cells were ever approved for trial they would require immunosuppressives, Hare says.

Hare has been involved in a number of stem cell therapy trials and sees the paper not as evidence that the stem cells themselves arent necessary, but instead as a mechanistic explanation for the fact that they do work. It is often the case in medicine, he says, that once a treatment is in use, we change our perspective on how they work. Fundamentally, he says, we know that the cells are working, and that theyre safe. He therefore thinks the paper supports the field and . . . substantiates that we were on the right track. That said, he adds, If someone takes these findings and comes up with a better approach, a safer approach, a more efficacious approach, thats great.

R.J. Vagnozzi et al., An acute immune response underlies the benefit of cardiac stem-cell therapy,Nature, doi:10.1038/s41586-019-1802-2,2019.

Ruth Williams is a freelance journalist based in Connecticut. Email her atruth@wordsbyruth.comor find her on Twitter @rooph.

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Activation of the Immune System Underlies Cardiac Cell Therapies - The Scientist

A newborn immune system responds to HIV infection less effectively than a more mature one, so an HIV-positive baby should be started on antiretroviral therapy as soon after birth as possible, new research suggests.

Although treatment early in life was known to be advantageous, the study, published Wednesday in Science Translational Medicine, shows the immune systems response in detail for the first time. The study could energize efforts to treat newborns with HIV, several experts say, and it may help pave the way for an eventual long-lasting treatment or even a cure.

In the study, 10 HIV-positive newborns in Botswana were started on antiretroviral therapythe gold-standard treatment for HIVwithin hours or days of birth instead of the more typical four months. If an HIV-positive pregnant woman is receiving treatment, and the amount of virus in her body is well controlled, she will not pass the disease on to her baby, although the infant will have antibodies to HIV in his or her bloodstream. If the mothers disease is not well controlled, the baby may be born with HIV.

To look for HIV-positive babies, the team screened more than 10,000 newborns using very small amounts of blood. The researchers identified 40 who were HIV-positive and began treating them with a three-drug cocktail within days of birth. The study reported on 10 of those babies, who are now almost two years old, and compared them with HIV-positive babies who did not receive treatment until four months of age.

The early treated babies fared much better in measures of viral levels in their bloodstream and lower levels of immune activity, which predicts the course of the disease, according to the study, which was conducted by a research team at the Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Brigham and Womens Hospital, and the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership in Botswana. The babies coped well with the drug regimen, with only one having to discontinue therapy because of side effects, said Roger Shapiro, a seniorauthor of the paper and an immunologist at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, in a news conference on Tuesday.

The stakes are high for getting these babies treated, says Pat Flynn, an infectious disease specialist at St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., who was not involved in the new study. HIV infection can have devastating neurological consequences, likely because of ongoing inflammation in the brain.

Every day, between 300 and 500 babies in sub-Saharan Africa are infected with HIV, according to the studys authors, who cite data from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Up to half of them will die by age two if they do not receive antiretroviral therapy. Infants infected in utero face even worse outcomes than those infected during birth or breastfeeding, said Mathias Lichterfeld, a co-author and an infectious disease specialist at the Ragon Institute and Brigham and Womens in the news conference. Putting all HIV-positive pregnant women on antiretroviral therapy is the best way to prevent them passing the virus to their babies, but many such women face barriers to accessing treatment, Shapiro said.

Scientists have known since a study published in 2008 that treating HIV-positive babies as early as possible leads to better outcomes, but the new paper provides a very comprehensive scientific rationale for why that is the case, says Sten Vermund, dean of the Yale School of Public Health and a pediatrician and infectious disease epidemiologist, who was not involved in the new research. As soon as possible might be too late. We really would be better treating right at birth.

Compared with the immune system of an older baby or an adult, Vermund says, the newborn immune system is much more immature but developing at a breakneck pace. Thats why infants are particularly vulnerable to intrauterine infections, which include toxoplasmosis, rubella, syphilis and Zika. And, he says, HIV can be added to that list, given the findings of this study.

Unfortunately, Vermund says, it is unrealistic to think that most HIV-positive babies born in sub-Saharan Africa could be treated soon after birth. The science is terrific, he says of the new paper, but it may not have much effect in the real world. The clinical relevance in Africa is not at all obvious to me, Vermund adds.

In most countries in sub-Saharan Africa, infants are tested for HIV at four to six weeks of age, Shapiro said in the conference. This practice enables doctors to catch babies who are infected during pregnancy, at delivery or very early in life,but it missesthe chance to start treatment immediately if the child is infected at birth. Adding a second test at birthas South Africa now doeswould be complicated and expensive, he conceded, but thats really the direction that the rest of the world should be following.

Yet even something that is simple in the U.S.such as drawing blood from a newborn, taking the blood to a lab, and getting results back to the clinic and the familyremains a major barrier to identifying those babies who are infected very early on, Flynn says. Instead it may make sense to determine women who are at high risk for transmitting HIV and put their infants on therapy even before the test results can be returned. But even then, maintaining stocks of antiretroviral drugs continues to be an issue in sub-Saharan Africa, she says, with funding streams to pay for medications being uncertain.

In the U.S., no more than about 50 babies are born each year to mothers who did not know they were HIV-positive, and they are generally identified at birth, Vermund says. The new study should stimulate obstetricians and pediatricians to be especially aggressive in promptly diagnosing and treating those newborns, Vermund says.

The research team plans to follow the babies and track how much viral reservoir they continue to carry. In a natural experiment in the U.S., the so-called Mississippi Baby was thought to be cured when her HIV remained undetectable for two years after stopping therapy. But then the disease rebounded, suggesting that early aggressive therapy is not a cure.

To improve long-term treatment of HIV-positive children, the researchers hope to put some of the babies on so-called broadly neutralizing antibodieswhich can recognize and block many types of HIV from entering healthy cells. They want to see if, long-term, these antibodies can substitute for the antiretroviral regimen, which is costly and cumbersome and comes with significant side effects.

Yvonne Maldonado, an expert in pediatric infectious diseases and epidemiology at Stanford University, who was not part of the new study, says the real benefit of the new study may not be in how it impacts the care of newborns with HIV but rather in the insights it offers into the HIV reservoirs that remain in the body even during treatment. This is really geared toward How do you get to the cure? rather than How do you treat babies? she says.

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HIV-Positive Babies Fare Better When Treatment Starts at Birth - Scientific American

Millions get the flu every year, and getting the yearly flu vaccine is far and away the best way to protect against it. But medical researchers have discovered that for the more than two-thirds of Americans who are overweight or obese, the vaccine doesnt seem to work as well, NPR reports.

Health officials first noticed the pattern during the 2009 flu pandemic, when they observed that the disease was especially bad for those who were significantly overweight. For some reason, the virus was able to grow to higher concentrations in obese patients, even spreading deeper into their lungs,Stacey Schultz-Cherry, an infectious disease specialist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, told NPR.

Besides getting people sicker, this also made them more likely to spread the disease, which is bad news for public health. When researchers studied the phenomenon more closely they found that the breath of obese patients contained more virus particles and that overweight people could spread the virus for an extra day, on average, compared to those with lower body weight.

Now, researchers are trying to figure out why so they can make the flu vaccine more effective.

Melinda Beck, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is studying how obesity impacts the immune system. Beingsignificantly overweight changes a persons metabolism, which impacts a range of bodily functions and canhamper the immune system.When we get sick, proteins in our bloodstream called antibodies attack viruses, while other cells, called T cells, also help fight disease. These T cells are what fail in the case of obese patients, Beck told NPR.

Beck has studied this phenomenon in mice and says the loss of T cell function is similar to whats observed in the elderly. So, a "30-year-old obese person has the immune cells that look a lot like what you might expect in an 80-year-old individual," Beck told NPR. She thinks T cells could explain why the flu vaccine doesnt work as well for significantly overweight people and the elderly.

Schultz-Cherry is part of an effort to develop a new vaccine that will work better for these vulnerable groups. Developing this new flu shot is likely to take years, but Schultz-Cherry emphasized that this is no reason not to get the vaccine in the meantime, as its still our best chance of avoiding a disease that infected between 37 and 43 million people last flu season.

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Flu shots are less effective for overweight people - The Hill

A recent study has reported that rapamycin, a drug that has long served as an immune suppressor, may also slow aging in human skin.

The small clinical trial found that regular application of rapamycin to the backs of the hands appears to reduce wrinkles and sagging and improve skin tone.

After 8 months, most of the hands that had received rapamycin treatment showed an increase in collagen and lower levels of a marker of aging in skin cells compared with a placebo.

In a recent Geroscience paper, the researchers conclude that rapamycin treatment showed a "clear impact" on skin aging at both the molecular and clinical levels.

The team that led the trial comes from Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA, where senior study author Christian Sell, Ph.D., is an associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology.

Since discovering rapamycin in the soil of Easter Island half a century ago, scientists have found that the bacterial antifungal compound has many effects in the body.

The drug, which takes its name from Rapa Nui, the native term for the Pacific island, can suppress the immune system and prevent cell replication in mammals.

A major mechanism through which rapamycin interacts with cells is the aptly-named mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR). Studies have linked the disruption of this pathway to cancer, obesity, and diabetes, as well as genetic and neurological conditions.

An earlier study by Sell and colleagues had demonstrated that rapamycin could improve cell function and slow aging in cultured cells.

Other researchers have also shown that by blocking TOR proteins in yeast cells, rapamycin causes the yeast to grow smaller cells that live longer.

"If you ramp the pathway down, you get a smaller phenotype," explains Sell.

Scientists have also discovered that rapamycin can slow aging in flies, worms, and mice.

"When you slow growth, you seem to extend lifespan and help the body repair itself at least in mice," Sell continues, noting, "This is similar to what is seen in calorie restriction."

The new investigation, however, is the first to demonstrate an anti-aging effect in living human tissue.

For the study, which took the form of a clinical trial, the team recruited 13 volunteers who were over 40 years of age.

They asked the participants to apply rapamycin cream to the back of one hand and a placebo cream to the back of the other hand every 1 or 2 days before bedtime.

The participants attended evaluation visits every 2 months for 8 months. During the visits, investigators took photographs to evaluate skin wrinkles and general appearance.

The participants also gave blood samples at the 6-month visit and underwent a skin biopsy of both hands at the 8-month visit.

Tests on the blood samples showed that the rapamycin had not entered the participants' bloodstream.

At the end of 8 months, most of the hands that had received rapamycin treatment showed an increase in collagen and a reduction in p16 protein.

Collagen is a protein that gives skin its structure, and p16 is a measure of cell senescence, or deterioration through aging. Skin that has more senescent cells is more wrinkled.

Skin that has higher levels of p16 carries a greater risk of infection and also tends to tear more easily and heal more slowly. These are all signs of dermal atrophy, a skin condition that is common in older people.

Investigations of p16 have shown that human cells release the protein as part of a stress response that occurs following cell damage. These studies have also demonstrated that p16 can function as a tumor suppressor, a type of protein that stops cell growth and division happening too fast or in an uncontrolled way.

Cancer develops when cells begin to behave abnormally. This can happen as a result of a mutation that causes cell processes to go awry. As a tumor suppressor, p16 slows down the cell cycle, promoting aging instead of cancer.

"When cells age, they become detrimental and create inflammation," comments Sell.

"That's part of aging," he continues, adding, "These cells that have undergone stress are now pumping out inflammatory markers."

The researchers point out that the new findings are just the early stage of their research, and they need to do a lot more before they can say how best to apply rapamycin to delay aging.

They foresee applications that include improving human performance and extending lifespan.

These would require developing a form of the drug that works at much lower doses than those used to prevent organ rejection and treat cancer.

Sell, and another team member are shareholders of a pharmaceutical company that holds the license for the technology, for which there are two patents pending.

"As researchers continue to seek out the elusive 'fountain of youth' and ways to live longer, we're seeing growing potential for the use of this drug."

Christian Sell, Ph.D.

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Rapamycin has anti-aging effect on human skin - Medical News Today

Data published in the European Journal of Nutrition indicated that daily consumption for three months of the probiotic combination which is commercially available as Probi Defendum by young children in day care led to absences from day care of 1.7 days, compared to 2.4 days in the placebo group, with the severity score of the respiratory tract infections was also decreased in the probiotic group.

The current study provides for the first-time evidence that Lactobacillus plantarumHEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei8700:2 reduce the severity of common colds in children as reflected in symptom relief, reduced need for medication during the study and reduced absence from day care due to sickness, wrote the researchers from Probi AB in Sweden.

The study adds to an ever-growing body of science supporting the potential immune health benefits of probiotics. Although the effects are often strain-specific, a recent economic modeling study reported that reductions in the incidence and duration of flu-like respiratory tract infections in the US as a result of probiotic supplements may translate into over $1 billion of costs savings.

Data published in Frontiers in Pharmacology indicated that probiotics may reduce the duration of the infection, the use of antibiotics, and missed days at work, all of which would translate into significant cost savings for the US population.

The new study used two specific strains: Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2. The potential immune health benefits of these strains have been tested in adults, to mixed results. The new study is the first time the combination has been tested in children.

The researchers recruited 131 healthy children attending day care between the ages of one and six and randomly assigned them to receive either the Probi Defendum product or placebo on aspects of common cold.

Results from the 106 children who completed the study indicated that daily probiotic consumption significantly reduced the severity of the symptom nasal congestion/runny nose, compared to placebo.

In addition, the probiotic use reported less concomitant medication use, compared to placebo.

The results also supported a reduction in absences from day care, a reduction in the overall severity per day in the children, and a reduction in crying more than usual for the children receiving the probiotic, compared to placebo.

Commenting on the potential mechanism(s) of action, the researchers noted that Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 and strains genetically similar to Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9 may induce innate cell-mediated immune functions and activate T-lymphocytes (white blood cells that play a role in the immune system).

Big changes are coming to how many of the most popular and commercially important probiotics are classified. The nameLactobacillusis instantly recognizable to many consumers and healthcare professionals, but the genus is extremely diverse and includes 251 species. Scientists have been working for years on this reclassification, and these changes will have significant impacts on many areas, from labeling to scientific publications and IP.

Join NutraIngredients-USA for a FREE educational webinar about this topic:Lactobacillus: What Brands Need to Know About the Taxonomic Changes, will take place on December 11 at 12:30pm Eastern/ 9:30am Pacific. For more information and to register, please clickHERE.

Source: European Journal of NutritionPublished online ahead of print, doi: 10.1007/s00394-019-02137-8Evaluation of the efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarumHEAL9 and Lactobacillus paracasei8700:2 on aspects of common cold infections in children attending day care: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studyAuthors: I. Lazou Ahrn et al.

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Probiotic combination shows immune health benefits for children in day care - NutraIngredients-usa.com

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University researchers have identified a mechanism involving the body's ability to resist fungal infection. The work could help advance research on cancer therapies that use the body's own immune system to fight disease.

In a study published Nov. 21 in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, IU scientist Yan Yu and colleagues found that two immune receptors -- named Dectin-1 and TLR2 -- must work together to trigger an inflammatory response that resists fungal infection.

The threat of fungal infection was recently highlighted in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's release of the 2019 AR Threats Report on Nov. 14, which for the first time included several antibiotic resistant fungi, such as Candida auris.

The PNAS study's leaders compared the use of two receptors to trigger immune response against fungus to the use of two identification codes, versus a single password, in online security -- a form of authentication popularly known as "dual login."

"It was previously known that Dectin-1 and TLR2 enhanced each other's function to achieve maximal immune response against fungal infection," said Yu, a professor in the IU Bloomington College of Arts and Sciences' Department of Chemistry. "But nobody had been able to pinpoint the mechanism by which immune cells manage the receptors to regulate the anti-fungal inflammatory response."

In order to fight infections, immune cells -- also known as white blood cells -- must first identify outside pathogens, which triggers a "search and destroy" response throughout the body. As part of this process, immune cells reply upon specific combinations of immunoreceptors to accurately and effectively detect foreign bodies.

If this process fails, Yu said, people are left vulnerable to life-threating diseases. She added that identifying the specific receptors whose "passwords" work together to regulate proper immune responses may help lead to new treatments for these diseases, as well as improve existing cancer immunotherapies.

To understand specifically how Dectin-1 and TLR2 trigger an immune response, Yu's team created two microparticles -- disguised as fungi -- with different binding patterns on their surface that activate these receptors. They then observed how different patterns triggered different levels of immune response.

By comparing the different patterns against the response to their "faux fungus," Yu and colleagues could see that white blood cells mounted the strongest defense when the molecules that bind to Dectin-1 and TLR2 were placed 500 nanometers apart.

"Both these receptors are regarded as important for stimulating immunity in cancer treatment," Yu said. "This discovery suggests the cancer immunotherapy could be made more effective by developing drugs that target both receptors in a single compound."

Yu added that the discovery was made possible in part by the use of Janus-particles, a nanotechnology named after the two-faced god of Roman mythology, in which two receptors are placed on opposite sides of the same particle. The researchers found that these particles triggered a weaker immune response due to their separation compared to particles where the receptors were paired evenly across their surface. As a result, Yu and colleagues concluded that close proximity played an important role in triggering a "maximal" immune response.

"The unique properties of Janus particles let us 'decouple' the receptors without affecting the rest of the experiment, which was key," she said. "No one had revealed this mechanism prior to our work."

Next, Yu said her team plans to use the study's methods to understand how the immune system resists other nonfungal infections -- as well as ultimately work toward creating new nanomaterials to enhance cancer immunotherapy.

Other authors on the paper were Wenqian Li, a Ph.D. student in biochemistry working in Yu's lab at IU, and Jun Yan at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Indiana University's world-class researchers have driven innovation and creative initiatives that matter for nearly 200 years. From curing testicular cancer to collaborating with NASA to search for life on Mars, IU has earned its reputation as a world-class research institution. Supported by $680 million last year from our partners, IU researchers are building collaborations and uncovering new solutions that improve lives in Indiana and around the globe.

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'Dual login' mechanism found to resist fungal infection in cells - IU Newsroom

The holidays are truly the most hectic times of the year, putting our immune systems at risk.

Most businesses have to meet end-of-year deadlines. Some of us are planning holiday shopping around travel plans. In fact, in 2018 it was predicted that a record-breaking 112.5 million people more than a third of all Americans [were] expected to travel for the entirety of the holiday season. And, then, of course, others are preparing their homes and daily routines to be upended by visiting family.

Yeah, theres a lot going on in these cold and holiday-filled months.

While we all love to visit and be visited by our loved ones and spend the holidays enjoying their company, its also important to note that staying healthy and avoiding illness is an integral part of that enjoyment. Yet, everything about the holidays from travel to holiday parties to new people in your home makes staying healthy so much more difficult.

What can you do?

First off, nobody should let the potentiality of sickness stop them from enjoying the holidays with their loved ones. So, instead of focusing on what you may catch or how much stress you may be taking on in the next sixty days, look at how you can boost your body to support you in these hectic times. Most importantly, its the time to incorporate as many plant-based immune system-boosting agents into your daily menu as possible!

kalhh/Pixabay

Theres a lot to staying healthy. The food you eat, your physical lifestyle, the amount of stress in your life on and on and on. Yet, when it comes to simply steering clear of the common cold or the flu, it all comes down to your immune system and how robust this essential weapon is.

So, how does it work?

The basics? The immune system is what keeps the bad stuff out. Its a network of organs, cells, and proteins that protects your body from outside invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and toxins (chemicals produced by microbes). Breaking it down even further, youll find the innate immune system which you are born with and the adaptive immune system which you develop when your body is exposed to microbes or chemicals released by microbes. Basically, the one you come with and the one you build.

sweetlouise/Pixabay

If youre stuck on a plane, a train, a bus, or any other highly human-congested compartment, then youre most likely in the presence of one of the following (if not more) illnesses. In fact, a recent study discovered the terrifying reality that its more than 100 percent more likely for someone to catch a cold on a plane than in daily life.

Alright, so you know to expect the common cold, but what else is out there that youre most likely to catch? Read further to find out the most common illnesses that are contracted during holiday travel.

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Ive lumped these two together because, while different in how they present, the reasons for their love of the holidays is similar.

To be fair, if you havent caught a cold or the flu from a coworker, the person sitting next to you at dinner last night, or even one of your own family members, then lets just call it lucky. But, luck doesnt run so far and you just know the moment you step on that flight home, with at least a few passengers coughing and sniffling, that youll walk off the flight with more than you came with.

So, what is are these illnesses and why are they so prevalent during the holidays?

Lets start with the common cold.

A cold referred to as common cold, if you were wondering the difference, there isnt one is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the nose [as well as] the throat, sinuses, and larynx. Since its a virus, theres little that you can do besides resting, eating nutritious meals, and hydrating. The problem? For some, generally those with preexisting health concerns, the common cold can develop into pneumonia, which is a very serious condition that can cause hospitalization and even death.

The flu short for influenza is a bit trickier and a lot less appealing than the common cold. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. While the common cold generally remains benign, unless in those rare instances, the flu can oftentimes become a severe illness, and, at times, can lead to death.

Its not necessarily that the holidays bring about an uptick in the common cold, but its a combination of cold weather its believed that the immune system is compromised by cold weather and more people out and about shopping, attending parties, and traveling. Plus, take a moment before turning up your thermostat. Central heating can lower our defences by drying out the nasal mucous that prevents viruses from entering the body.

PublicDomainPictures/Pixabay

This is a less common illness, but definitely a virulent, knock-you-off-your-feet, variety.

The norovirus affectionately referred to as the winter vomiting bug is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Unfortunately, this virus is super easily transmitted via contact with an infected person, drinking contaminated water or consuming contaminated food, or even by touching contaminated surfaces then putting your unwashed hands in your mouth. Its due to the ease of spreading, lowered immune system via the cold, and a huge increase of people comingling in public spaces that causes cases of the norovirus to go up during the holidays.

The good news?

The norovirus generally clears up in only a couple of days, even though those few days are pretty unpleasant. Plus, you can enact some key habits to help avoid the bug such as frequently washing your hands, and to avoid sharing your personal items, especially things like clothing, bedding, and towels, with people who are or may be infected.

nastya_gepp/Pixabay

While theres lots more health-related discomfort to choose from in regards to the holiday months aches and pains, dry skin, Seasonal Affective Disorder, to name just a few I think one of the most pertinent that many of us suffer from, but dont talk about is stress-induced digestive upset.

We love our family and we love our friends, yet maneuvering through social events, especially when theyre lapped one-over-the-other can absolutely be stressful. On top of that, theres the work-life stress as deadlines approach before the end of the year, holiday parties to prepare for, and, of course, amidst all of this, youre most likely unable to attend to your healthy eating habits.

Simply put, youre stressed out even if youre happy during the holidays and this can cause digestive issues, increased headaches, body aches, and an uptick in anxiety and even depression. This can manifest in a variety of ways from bloating, constipation, diarrhea, cramps, and gas, to more serious digestive conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Inflammatory Bowel Disease, to name just a few.

Its important to listen to your body and take note of your mental state during the holidays. Try to find a quiet moment every day to honestly check in with yourself. Most likely, if your body is all of a sudden not feeling well, it may be an indicator of elevated stress.

Ajale/Pixabay

One of the many benefits of eating plant-based foods is the increased consumption of protective qualities. Most plant-based foods are naturally rich in immune system-boosting nutrients. While a well-rounded diet is a great key to overall health, there are certain nutrients that offer a bit more of a leg up when looking to kick the common cold or the flu. Plus, many of these foods can be properly packed into travel-friendly recipes. Infuse your body with protection while youre on the plane, bus, or train!

Dark Cherry Smoothie Bowl/One Green Planet

You may be sick of hearing about getting your vitamin C, yet during the holidays its as important as ever to make sure youre getting enough of this vital nutrient. This water-soluble vitamin is found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, strawberries, kiwi fruit, bell peppers, broccoli, kale and spinach. Along with battling high blood pressure, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease, improving absorption of iron, and protecting your brain, vitamin C is also well known for its ability to boost your immune system. How so? Vitamin C has been shown to help your white blood cells function at their optimal ability, thereby providing better defenses against foreign invaders.

Looking for the best fruits and veggies for vitamin C? While you may go directly for that navel orange, try a few of these alternative foods that are even higher in vitamin C content: acerola cherries, chili peppers, guavas, thyme, mustard spinach, kale, kiwis, Brussels sprouts, and strawberries, to name just a few.

Now you knowwhatto buy, now what do you cook? Here are some creative vitamin-C recipes to get you started!

Dark Cherry Smoothie Bowl, Superfood Kale Salad,Pomegranate Guava Smoothie, Thyme and Concord Grape Scones, Mango, Chili, and Lime Quinoa Salad, Kiwi Avocado Juice, or this Good Morning Beet Juice.

6-Ingredient Matcha Cookies/One Green Planet

Antioxidants. You hear about them everywhere. You know theyre good for your body. So, whats up with these plant-based white knight agents?

Turns out antioxidants prevent damage to immune cells by neutralizing free radicals agents in the environment that may damage your cells and reduce your immunity. Hold up, what are free radicals? These compounds can cause harm if their levels become too high in your body and theyre linked to multiple illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Due to the fact that plants use antioxidants in their own defenses against free radicals and oxidative damage, that means when you consume plant-based foods, youre also consuming that plants antioxidants. While your body requires certain antioxidants to live such as vitamins C and E there are other non-essential antioxidants [which] occur in food that play an important role in general health.

Where do you get antioxidants? To be honest, antioxidants are pretty much spread across the board in a plant-based diet. With that said, there are a few standouts in the crowd including berries, green tea, coffee, and dark chocolate.

It doesnt sound too hard to get to consuming these antioxidant powerhouses, does it! Here are a few holiday festive recipes to get you started amping up your immune system for your travels: Nut-Free Strawberry Vanilla Crumble Bars, Raspberry Breakfast Muffins, Blueberry-Almond Dark Chocolate Bark, 6-Ingredient Matcha Cookies, Matcha Latte, No-Bake Mocha Doughnuts With Chocolate Frosting, or this Coffee Cake Banana Bread.

Spicy Kale Chips/One Green Planet

Hand-in-hand with antioxidants is inflammation. Antioxidants are actually a wonderful component to help fight bodily inflammation. Alright, but whats up with inflammation? Youve most likely heard lots about inflammation being linked to health. In fact, Harvard Health published an article entitledInflammation: A unifying theory of disease in which they lay out the case for the linkage between chronic bodily inflammation and a vast array of diseases.

Inflammation in a nutshell in short, inflammation is part of a process that depends both on the physical actions of white blood cells and the chemicals that they produce: antibodies, cytokines, and the like. Basically, inflammation is a natural and necessary part of the immune response, yet, its been discovered that certain aggravators may cause the body to be in a state of chronic inflammation, which leads down unruly paths into disease.

Luckily, just like antioxidants, plant-based foods are also rich in anti-inflammatory agents as well! In particular, tomatoes, olive oil, green leafy veggies, nuts, and lots of fruits. Plus, there are certain spices, such as turmeric and Ceylon cinnamon, which are known to help decrease inflammation as well.

Get your anti-inflammation on this holiday season with these delightful recipes: Homemade Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Pepper and Almond Spread,No Bake Choc Squares, Almond & Date Shortbread,Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Olive Oil and Orange Cookies,Savory Citrus Arugula Steel Cut Oatmeal, Golden Milk Frapuccino, or these Baked Kale Chips.

Spicy Carrot Clementine Juice/One Green Planet

If youre like me, then most medications upset the normal rhythm of your body including inducing nausea, causing constipation, and even aggravating heartburn. When it comes to holiday illness, in particular, the common cold, try seeking some herbal remedies instead? Herbs are an ancient source of medicines dating back to Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicinal practices.

When it comes to kicking your ailments, while traveling look to some fo the powerhouses such as ginger, garlic, and echinacea. Ginger is great for soothing a sore throat or cough and is a powerhouse when treating nausea. Garlic has a compound called allicin, which may have antimicrobial properties, and may alleviate the severity of your symptoms. Echinacea has been used for centuries and is believed to have therapeutic effects on the body due to its high levels of flavonoids.

You dont have to down bitter tinctures in order to enjoy an herbal remedy. When it comes to ginger and garlic, add these aromatic delights to your favorite holiday (or non-holiday) recipes such as thisSpicy Carrot Clementine Juice, these Ginger-Beet Moscow Mules, theseSweet Potato Fries With Maple-Tahini Garlic Dip, or this soothing Italian Minestrone.

Echinacea, on the other hand, can be used in a variety of ways, yet the most popular and effect are in supplemental form Vegan Echinacea Goldenseal Capsules or as a tincture Immune Booster with Echinacea Goldenseal.

We also highly recommend downloading ourFood Monster App, which is available foriPhone, and can also be found onInstagramandFacebook. The app has more than 15,000 plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes, and subscribers gain access to new recipes every day. Check it out!

For more Vegan Food, Health, Recipe, Animal, and Life content published daily, dont forget to subscribe to theOne Green Planet Newsletter!

Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Pleasesupport us!

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Plant-Based Immune System Boosters to Keep You Healthy During the Holidays - One Green Planet

Nov. 27, 2019 13:00 UTC

CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NantKwest, Inc. (Nasdaq: NK), a next generation, clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on harnessing the unique power of our immune system using natural killer (NK) cells to treat cancer, infectious diseases and other diseases, today announced that on Monday, December 2, 2019, it will host a key opinion leader (KOL) meeting in New York City on the current treatment landscapes and unmet medical needs of patients with Merkel cell carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, solid tumors and the state-of-the-art treatment in the induction of Immunogenic Cell Death.

This event will feature presentations from KOLs George Ansstas, MD, Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis, Chaitali Nangia, MD, Chan Soon-Shiong Institute for Medicine, and Clint Allen, MD, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, as well as Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of NantKwest.

NantKwests management team will also provide pipeline updates on their haNK and PD-L1.t-haNK programs utilizing the Companys Activated Natural Killer (aNK) cell platform to target these diseases. This platform harnesses the power of the innate immune system and is uniquely positioned to provide broadly available, off-the-shelf cell therapies capable of being administered in the outpatient setting.

Clint Allen, MD is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Principal Investigator of the Translational Tumor Immunology Program, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, NIH. His research focuses on understanding how the immune system responds to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, and how this can be enhanced therapeutically. He leads a large pre-clinical and clinical laboratory program focused on translational pre-clinical studies in syngeneic models of squamous cell carcinoma and the assessment of clinical trial specimens. He is the director of the inpatient Otolaryngology consultation service at the NIH Clinical Center and maintains a surgical practice for the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine based out of Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, MD.

George Ansstas, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Medical Oncology, Division of Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Ansstas's clinical expertise includes brain tumors, neuro-oncology, skin cancer, and melanoma. He received his medical degree from University of Tishreen, Latakia, Syria in 2001. Dr. Ansstas completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Washington University, St. Louis.

Chaitali Nangia, MD is an Hematologist/Oncologist based in Costa Mesa, California and is affiliated with Hoag Hospital System. She received her medical degree from Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi, India and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Resurrection Westlake Medical Center in Illinois. She then completed her Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan. She worked as an Associate Professor at University of California-Irvine and as an Associate Program Director at University of California-Irvine Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program prior to her current role. She acted as the principal investigator for several clinical trials and has been an author of several publications.

This event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, and business development professionals only. Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend, as space is limited. Members of the media and the public are invited to participate via the live webcast, which can be accessed through our company website at https://nantkwest.com/nantkwest-key-opinion-leader-event/. The event is expected to start at noon EST on Monday, December 2, 2019.

About NantKwest

NantKwest (NK) is an innovative, clinical-stage immunotherapy company focused on harnessing the power of the innate immune system to treat cancer and virally induced infectious diseases. We are the leading producer of clinical dose forms of off-the-shelf Natural Killer (NK) cell therapies. Our activated NK cell platform is designed to destroy cancer and virally infected cells from the body. The safety of our optimized, activated NK cells, as well as their activity against a broad range of cancers, have been tested in phase I clinical trials in Canada and Europe, as well as in multiple phase I and II clinical trials in the United States. By leveraging an integrated and extensive genomics and transcriptomics discovery and development engine, together with a pipeline of multiple, clinical-stage, immuno-oncology programs, NantKwests goal is to transform medicine by delivering living drugs in a bag and bringing novel NK cell-based therapies to routine clinical care. NantKwest is a member of the NantWorks ecosystem of companies. For more information, please visit https://nantkwest.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning or implying that NantKwest will be successful in improving the treatment of cancer. Risks and uncertainties related to this endeavor include, but are not limited to, obtaining FDA approval of NantKwests NK cells as well as other therapeutics as part of the NANT Cancer Vaccine platform as a cancer treatment.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, these forward-looking statements do not constitute guarantees of future performance, and you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

These and other risks regarding NantKwests business are described in detail in its Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including in NantKwests Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2019. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any obligation to update these statements except as may be required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191127005192/en/

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NantKwest Hosting Key Opinion Leader Meeting on Novel Immunotherapeutic Approaches to Address the Unmet Medical Needs of Patients with Merkel Cell...

When a woman gets pregnant, there is a change in her immune system. (Source: Thinkstock/Getty)

By Dr Aparna Jha

Pregnancies usually last for about 40 weeks. If a baby is born before 37 weeks, it is known as premature birth. In such cases, the infant is too small for breathing or regulating body temperature. This can lead to brain bleeds and other organ troubles. Premature birth can also lead to disability, cognitive problems, development delays, and infant death. Many of such babies will require speech and/or physical therapy later. It can also seriously affect the health of the mother.

It has been difficult knowing the cause of preterm birth. In most of the cases, there have been no risk factors involved. Here are some risk factors for premature birth:

Some researchers believe that the immune system of a mother can play a role in predicting preterm birth. The immune system is sensitive to environmental changes. It might be the common denominator for all the factors contributing to preterm labor. For decades, all the immune-related proteins and genes involved in inflammation have been associated with preterm births. However, there has been no link in treatments or predictive tests.

When a woman gets pregnant, there is a change in her immune system. Chemicals are released into the body that stop the immune cells from attacking the cells of the embryos as the foreign invaders. After the cells are implanted into the uterus walls, decidua, a thick layer of tissue, starts forming between the embryo and the mother. Also, anti-inflammatory immune cells like regulatory T cells are used for keeping the immune system at bay.

When the woman reaches the last stage of her pregnancy, between 37 to 40 weeks, this immuno suppression is switched. All the immune cells start flooding the area and setting off a chain reaction. This triggers the contraction of the uterus. Also, due to the inflammation, enzymes are released from the cells that dissolve the membrane that surrounds the foetus. This results in the breaking and releasing of the amniotic fluid. Now, it is important that these processes happen, but not before 37 weeks.

In the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, it was reported that inflammation involves a protein called cytokines that were present in a higher amount in the amniotic fluid of women who gave preterm birth. The higher the cytokine levels, the earlier was the delivery. Also, women with short cervix had higher levels of a cytokine named MIP-1B or Macrophage Inflammatory protein-1 beta present in their amniotic fluid.

There are thousands of contributing factors in the blood and microbiome of the mother towards preterm birth. These factors can be analysed through a system:

It is clear that these changes can be predicted earlier by researching the immune system of the mother. For solidifying the connection between the immune system and preterm birth reliable immune markers need to be detected in the blood and tied to the difference visible in the amniotic fluid. Now since every cause of preterm birth is still unknown, it is not possible to find these biological markers.

(The writer is Consultant Gynecologist and Obstetrician, Apollo Cradle, Bangalore.)

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How the immune system can predict preterm birth - The Indian Express

Some men who have exhausted all other treatment options for advanced prostate cancer could survive for at least two more years on immunotherapy, new research suggests.

Researchers found this small proportion of men, described as super responders, were alive and well even after the major clinical trial ended, despite having a poor prognosis before treatment.

One in 20 men with end-stage prostate cancer responded to the immunotherapy pembrolizumab.

However, the scientists say that while this number was small, these patients sometimes gained years of extra life.

Our study has shown that a small proportion of men with very advanced prostate cancer are super responders to immunotherapy

According to the study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the most dramatic responses were seen in patients whose tumours had mutations in genes involved in repairing DNA.

Researchers are now looking at whether this group might especially benefit from immunotherapy.

Johann de Bono, Regius Professor of cancer research at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: Our study has shown that a small proportion of men with very advanced prostate cancer are super responders to immunotherapy and could live for at least two years and possibly considerably longer.

We dont see much activity from the immune system in prostate tumours, so many oncologists thought immunotherapy wouldnt work for this cancer type.

But our study shows that a small proportion of men with end-stage cancer do respond, and crucially that some of these men do very well indeed.

The study involved 258 men with advanced prostate cancer who had previously been treated and became resistant to androgen deprivation therapy and docetaxel chemotherapy.

Some 5% of the men treated with the immunotherapy saw their tumours shrink or disappear, while 19% showed some evidence of tumour response.

Among a group of 166 patients with particularly advanced disease and high levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), the average length of survival was 8.1 months with pembrolizumab.

Nine of these patients saw their disease disappear or partly disappear on scans.

Of these, four were super-responders who remained on treatment at the end of the study follow-up, with responses lasting for at least 22 months, scientists say.

A second group of patients whose PSA levels were lower, but whose disease had spread to the bone, lived for an average of 14.1 months.

Pembrolizumab was well tolerated, with 60% of patients reporting any side effects and only 15% of patients experiencing grade three to five side-effects.

Professor Paul Workman, chief executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: Immunotherapy has had tremendous benefits for some cancer patients and its fantastic news that even in prostate cancer, where we dont see much immune activity, a proportion of men are responding well to treatment.

A limitation with immunotherapy is that theres no good test to pick out those who are most likely to respond.

Its encouraging to see testing for DNA repair mutations may identify some patients who are more likely to respond, and Im keen to see how the new, larger trial in this group of patients plays out.

Immunotherapy uses the immune system to fight cancer, and works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells.

The phase II clinical trial was led by a team at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, and The Royal Marsden Foundation Trust, and funded by the drugs manufacturer Merck, Sharpe & Dohme.

More:
Prostate cancer super responders gain years of life on immunotherapy study - BreakingNews.ie

ImmunologistAli Ellebedywas working on a studyanalyzing the immune response to flu infection in humans. During his research, he spotted a new type ofpowerful antibody in a blood sample from a patientinfected with human influenza virus.

Ellebedy then sent samples of the antibody to Florian Krammer a microbiologistwho proved the effectiveness of theantibodies by testing them againstextensive samples of virus proteins dating back to the 1970s. These proteins, called neuraminidase, enable the virus to spread through the human body.

The study, whichwas jointly conducted byScripps Research, Washington University's School of Medicine in St. Louis and theIcahn School of Medicinein New York, was published in the Octoberissue of Science.

Future vaccine could survive antiviral resistance

Krammer told DW that the beauty of this new antibody, called 10G1, is that it binds to the parts of the virus that never change. This means that even if new strains of influenza viruses are detected, a potential vaccine containing new antibodies would still be effective.

Moreover, the antibody has a powerful potential to attack both A and B subtypes of influenza viruses, making it an even better candidate for a universal vaccine that would combat human, swine, and bird strains, as well as other rarerstrains of lethal flu viruses.

Read more:Is medicine for the flu coming?

There arethree types of influenza viruses that affect humans. These are A, B, and C. Type A causes epidemics of seasonal flu. Among these are swine H1N1, bird H5N1, and human influenza flu H3N2. Type A viruses circulate between humans and other species, whereas type B and C are only known to exist in humans, causing mild infectionsand usuallywithout symptoms.

DW analyzed data about virus activity throughout the US and Europe, sourced by the World Health Organisation's Global Surveillance and Response System(GISRS). The results, presented in the heatmap below, show that there has been a steady rise in influenza virus activity forboth A and B virus subtypes,especially in the US, the UK, Portugal, Germany and Croatia.

Moreover, the results point to a high activity in the first and last weeks of the year.

Not only to prevent, but also to cure

Even though commonly mistaken for a cold due tosimilar symptoms like coughing, a runny nose, sneezing, and experiencing a high fever seasonal flu can be very dangerous. Untreated influenza can have fatal outcomes, as it can lead to severe respiratory infections. This is particularly the case forsensitive groups like infants, pregnant women, the elderlyand people with chronic diseases.

One of the biggest problems with current vaccines is that they usually last one seasonbefore the virus mutates. However, researchers working on this study also tried to create resistant viruses in the labto test whether the new antibody would still work. The results proved that the antibodies still bound to the virus and neutralized it.

The antibodies proved to be effective even against strains of the virus resistant to Tamiflu, a powerful cure used to treat severe cases of influenza viruses like swine and bird flu.

"Infected mice [in the study]reacted very well to these antibodies even three days after they wereinfected, and the window for Tamiflu was closed. This means that the discovered antibodies would have a potential for the development of both vaccine and a cure,"Krammer told DW.

Read more:Do I have the flu or the common cold?

Rise in global deaths from flu

There is a steady rise in global annual deaths from influenza viruses.Now, there are an estimated 290,000 to600,000 mortality cases per year, but it is still hard to determine real numbers.

"There is pretty good data for North America and Europe, so it really depends on how good the surveillance systems are.Unfortunately there are a lot of countries that don't have good surveillance systems for influenza."

Furtherdata analysis by DW shows that the year 2018 saw particularly high influenza virus activity comparedto the past several years.

The most common flu infections were caused by the virus A, which was not subtyped. Krammer told DW that unsubtyped A viruses mean that it is hard to identify if the virus belongs to theH1N1swine flu, or H3N2, which is human influenza virus.

A newreportfrom the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention also suggests thatinfluenza season in the United States started earlier this year, and that widespread virus type A activity has been recorded in Puerto Rico, and seven other states including Texas, Alabama, and Nevada.

On the other hand, Krammerexplained that flu seasons vary in the northern and southern hemispheres. In the north, flu seasons are common in winter, but in countries like China and Singapore, influenza is spread throughout the yearbecause there is no real winter. That makes iteven more difficult to determine the real burden ofinfluenza.

"It's still not quite clear to what extent influenza seasons are influenced by the changing weather and to what extent they are influenced bythe changing behavior of humans during these weather changes,"said Krammer.

Read more:Top 10 most dangerous viruses in the world

High risk of pandemic

Krammer pointed out that the chances for a global pandemic are increasing. It's hard to predict when the next big pandemic willhappen, he said, but heis certain it will happen again.

He also explained that the most deadly influenza virus type, which dominated flu seasons overthe past few years, is the human influenza virus H3N2. But it's impossible to say which virus will cause the next big outbreakand cause the most deaths.

"We have approximately three to fourpandemics per century. We had the one in 1918, 1957, 1968and one in 2009, so it's not very predictable," he said.

"The chances for a pandemic are, however, increasing because there is a lot more global interaction. Pandemic viruses come from avian species, like wild birds, chickens, ducks, where all these influenza viruses circulate. If we look at the number of chickens we raise for food, they are increasing, because the global population is increasingand we need to feed people."

Globally between 290,000 and 600,000 people die from influenza per year

Read more:Next flu pandemic 'a matter of when, not if,' says WHO

Prevention best way to avoid lethal flu infections

Even though newly discoveredantibodies have enormouspotential for the development of a truly universal vaccine and cure for influenza, it will take years of costly clinical trialsbefore it hits the market, Krammer said.

The first step is to examine if it's possible for all humans to develop the 10G1antibodies.

Until auniversal vaccine is developed, one of the best ways to stay safe is to take precautionary measures, Krammer suggested.

"First, get vaccinated. The vaccines we have now are not perfect, but they really work. The second step is to keep ourselves healthy. If we are healthy, infections have less impact. The new generation of a vaccine we have now is against four viruses which circulate in humans which are H1N1, H3N2 and two types of influenza B viruses."

Read more:Flu season wreaks havoc on German workforce

The immune system needs many different types of fuel. Fruit and vegetables provide them. Your diet should be healthy and colorful: Oranges, red peppers, green leafy vegetables and red cabbage provide a potpourri of vitamins, and are especially rich in natural vitamin C.

In order to ensure your immune system is top-top, make sure you have all the necessary immunizations. Adults often forget to refresh vaccinations they had when they were young. Check if you need booster shots for tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, polio, hepatitis, pneumococcus, meningitis, measles, mumps, rubella, the flu and others. Be sure to talk to your doctor!

Scientific studies suggest that regular muscle training (jogging, nordic or pole walking, taking a stroll), three times a week for 20 minutes can boost your defenses. But be careful: overdoing it can also drain your immune system.

Sufficient sleep doesn't just allow your body to recuperate. During the slow-wave sleep phase, neurotransmitters are released and the immune system springs into action.

Studies show that good spirits and a zest for life promote a strong immune system. Laughing and playing don't just provide for a better quality of life, they also boost the body's defenses.

Negative stress activates the release of adrenalin and cortisol. These hormones can paralyze the immune system. Sensible stress and time management allows the body to rest and replenish new energy. Selective relaxation exercises like meditation, autogenic training and yoga can significantly boost the immune system.

Taking walks in the fresh air gives you a change of temperature and exercise - both stimulate the body's defense systems. Mucous membranes also benefit from improved circulation and the increased humidity makes it easier to fight off attacks.

Studies have shown that burning up short chain sugars like fructose and glucose uses up many vitamins that are no longer available to the body.

Alternating hot and cold showers help regulate body heat and improve blood flow. An invigorating massage with a massage sponge or brush stimulates the immune system even more.

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New discovery could spell end to seasonal flu - DW (English)

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, November 27, 2019 Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA, OTC: BVNRY) today held an Extraordinary General Meeting with the results as follows:

The Board of Directors was authorized, until June 30, 2020, to increase the share capital of the Company with pre-emptive rights for the existing shareholders through one issue of up to a total of nominally DKK 415,000,000, corresponding to approximately 128% of the Company's registered share capital. This authorization entails the adoption of a new Article 5e of the Articles of Association as follows:

"Article 5eFor the period ending on 30 June 2020, the Board of Directors shall be authorised to increase the Company's share capital through one issue of up to a total of nominally DKK 415,000,000 (41,500,000 shares of DKK 10 each) by the subscription of new shares. The existing shareholders shall have pre-emption rights to subscribe for the amount by which the share capital is increased, proportional to their shareholdings. The share capital shall be increased by cash payment at a subscription price which may be lower than the value of the shares.

The terms and conditions of the subscription for shares shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

The new shares shall be negotiable instruments, shall be registered in the names of the holders and shall be entered in the Company's register of shareholders. No restrictions shall apply to the transferability of the new shares, and no shareholder shall be obliged to have his shares redeemed - in whole or in part. The shares shall carry the right to dividend as from the date fixed by the Board of Directors, but not later than the first financial year following the capital increase.

About Bavarian NordicBavarian Nordic is a fully integrated biotechnology company focused on the development of innovative therapies against infectious diseases and cancer. Using our live virus vaccine platform technology, MVA-BN, we have created a diverse portfolio of proprietary and partnered product candidates intended to unlock the power of the immune system to improve public health with a focus on high unmet medical needs. In addition to our long-standing collaboration with the U.S. government on the development and supply of medical countermeasures, including the only FDA-approved, non-replicating smallpox vaccine, our infectious disease pipeline comprises a proprietary RSV program as well as vaccine candidates for Ebola, HPV, HBV and HIV, which are developed through a strategic partnership with Janssen. Additionally, we have developed a portfolio of active cancer immunotherapies, designed to alter the disease course by eliciting a robust and broad anti-cancer immune response while maintaining a favorable benefit-risk profile. For more information visit http://www.bavarian-nordic.com or follow us on Twitter @bavariannordic.

ContactsRolf Sass SrensenVice President Investor RelationsTel: +45 61 77 47 43

Company Announcement no. 25 / 2019

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Bavarian Nordic A/S Report on the Results of the Extraordinary General Meeting, held November 27, 2019 - GlobeNewswire

An engineered version of this Escherichia coli bacterium gets all the carbon it needs to grow from carbon dioxide, just like plants.

By Robert F. ServiceNov. 27, 2019 , 11:00 AM

Synthetic biologists have performed a biochemical switcheroo. Theyve re-engineered a bacterium that normally eats a diet of simple sugars into one that builds its cells by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2), much like plants. The work could lead to engineered microbes that suck CO2 out of the air and turn it into medicines and other high-value compounds.

The implications of this are profound, says Dave Savage, a biochemist at the University of California, Berkeley, who was not involved with the work. Such advances, he says, could ultimately make us change the way we teach biochemistry.

Biologists typically break the world up into two types of organisms: autotrophs like plants and some bacteria that mostly use photosynthesis to convert CO2 into sugars and other organic compounds they need to build their cells. Meanwhile, the heterotrophs (thats us and pretty much everything else) get those building blocks from the organisms they consume.

Synthetic biologists have long tried to engineer plants and autotrophic bacteria to produce valuable chemicals and fuels from water and CO2, because it has the potential to be cheaper than other routes. But so far theyve been far more successful at getting the heterotrophic bacterium Escherichia coliknown to most people as the microbe that lives in our guts and sometimes triggers food poisoningto produce ethanol and other desired chemicals more cheaply than other approaches. Its not always cheap, however; these engineered E. coli strains must eat a steady diet of sugars, increasing the costs of the effort.

So, Ron Milo, a synthetic biologist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, and his colleagues decided to see whether they could transform E. coli into an autotroph. To do so, they re-engineered two essential parts of the bacteriums metabolism: how it gets energy and what source of carbon it uses to grow.

On the energy side, the researchers couldnt give the bacterium the ability to carry out photosynthesis, because the process is too complex. Instead, they inserted the gene for an enzyme that enabled the microbe to eat formate, one of the simplest carbon-containing compounds, and one other strains of E. coli cant eat. The microbes could then transform the formate into ATP, an energy-rich molecule that cells can use. That diet gave the microbe the energy it needed to use the second batch of three new enzymes it receivedall of which enabled it to convert CO2 into sugars and other organic molecules. The researchers also deleted several enzymes the bacterium normally uses for metabolism, forcing it to depend on the new diet to grow.

The changes didnt initially produce bacteria capable of living on formate and CO2, however. The researchers suspected the nutrients were still being directed toward its natural metabolism. So, they placed batches of the engineered E. coli in vessels that allowed them to carefully control the microbes diet. The team started with basically a starvation diet of xylose, a sugar, along with formate and CO2. This allowed the microbes to at least survive and reproduce.

It also set the stage for evolution: If any bacterial offspring acquired genetic mutations that allowed them to thrive on that diet, they would produce more offspring than those that didnt evolve. The researchers steadily decreased the amount of xylose available to the microbes as well. After 300 days and hundreds of generations of mutating E. coli, the xylose was gone. Only those bacteria that had evolved into autotrophs survived.

In all, the evolved bacteria picked up 11 new genetic mutations that allowed them to survive without eating other organisms, the team reports today in Cell. It really shows how amazing evolution can be, in that it can change something so fundamental as cellular metabolism, Milo says.

I bow to them for making it succeed, says Pam Silver, a systems biologist at Harvard Medical School in Boston, who devoted years to a similar project.

Scientists have previously developed dozens of tools to manipulate E. colis genes so that it produces different compounds, such as pharmaceuticals and fuels. That means researchers should be able to insert these changes autotrophic E. coli that eat formate, which is readily made by zapping CO2 in water with electricity. As a result, formate produced from wind and solar power could help engineered bacteria make ethanol and other fuels, or pharmaceuticals, such as the malaria-fighting drug artemisinin. Not bad for a makeover.

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This microbe no longer needs to eat food to grow, thanks to a bit of genetic engineering - Science Magazine

Protecting frogs against the invisible killer called chytrid was never going to be easy. The fungus has already wiped out more species than any other known disease. But a recent study of the worldwide spread of the fungus shows that the task will be even harder than scientists expected.

The study is the first to use skin swabs from amphibians to identify the major strains of the fungus. Researchers found regions where strains could combine into deadly hybrids. They also found a previously unknown variant in Southeast Asia, which has not yet spread globally.

The findings, published Sept. 23 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show that ecologists will need to track these distinct fungal variants to protect frogs more fully. Mutations in the fungus make it a moving target in much the same way as the ever-shifting influenza virus.

There [are] amazing, last vestiges of really diverse amphibian communities, said environmental scientist Erica Bree Rosenblum of the University of California, Berkeley, senior author of the study. If we can protect them from having a really deadly chytrid strain, that would be great.

Chytrid infects the thin, moist skin frogs use to absorb water and balance their levels of sodium, chloride and potassium. An infected frog, unable to maintain a steady heartbeat, will die of a heart attack. The fungus then releases spores into the water to infect the next frog. This deadly cycle is responsible for the decline of more than 500 amphibian species. About 90 species have gone extinct in the past 50 years, ecologists believe, including Australias Mount Glorious torrent frog (Taudactylus diurnus), last seen in 1979.

Some chytrid variants are deadlier than others. However, most genetic tests only reveal whether any fungus is present. The current way to identify the lineage of a fungus is to sequence its entire genome, a time-consuming step.

Rosenblums team, including first author Allison Byrne at UC Berkeley, devised a less laborious approach: a genetic test that works on small amounts of low-quality DNA. They tested 222 frog skin swabs from six continents and 24 countries. The massive international collaboration mobilized 30 co-authors.

The tests uncovered a new variant in China, Indonesia and the Philippines, which fits scientists understanding that the disease probably started in Asia. Researchers also found variants in unexpected places. For example, a lineage previously reported in Europe and Africa also turned up on frogs in Latin America.

This paper has been a long time coming, said evolutionary biologist Timothy James of the University of Michigan, who was not involved in the study. It validates some hypotheses and shows the way forward.

Many regions hosted multiple strains of the fungus. In some cases, frogs with different variants lived within meters of each other. That proximity worries Rosenblum. Strains could form deadlier hybrids in places like Brazil, where American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) are farmed as pets and food. The new skin swab genetic test could allow officials to screen shipments of frogs before they go overseas, Rosenblum has proposed.

The teams approach could also help scientists learn how chytrid became so deadly to begin with. Museum samples have shown that the fungus existed on frogs collected in the early 1900s. However, mass die-offs didnt begin until the 1970s. Museum archives, examined with the new test, could identify what changed: from tweaks in the genetics of the fungus to the rise of international amphibian trade and global travel.

The effects of globalization for disease transmission around the world are so palpable, Rosenblum said. If were worried about moving diseases around the world for our own species, then we should also be worried about moving diseases around the world for other species.

Citation

Byrne, A. Q., et al. (2019). Cryptic diversity of a widespread global pathogen reveals expanded threats to amphibian conservation.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,116(41), 20382-20387. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1908289116

Jonathan Wosen (@JonathanWosen) is a graduate student in the Science Communication Program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Other Mongabay stories produced by UCSC students can be found at https://news.mongabay.com/list/ucsc/

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Rapid genetic test traces spread of fungus that kills frogs, reveals new strain in Southeast Asia - Mongabay.com

Testingpatients for certain pathogenic variants associated with increased cancer riskchanged the management of those patients, with patients almost always followingprovider recommendations for cancer screening, according to a recent study.

The studylooked at de-identified personal and family history data from 654 individualswith pathogenic variants in PALB2, ATM, CHEK2, NBN, BRIP1, RAD51C, and/orRAD51D. Data were analyzed to quantify pretest and posttest candidacyfor guideline-recommended management of cancer risk.

Amongpatients with CHEK2, ATM, PALB2, or NBN variants, only 24% wereappropriate for consideration of annual breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)prior to genetic testing. The remaining 76% were only deemed appropriatecandidates for MRI after testing.

Similarly,no patients with BRIP1, RAD51C, or RAD51D variants would havebeen considered candidates for risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) priorto undergoing genetic testing.

No consensus management recommendations exist for individuals at average risk or increased risk for ovarian cancer based on family history; therefore, no individuals were deemed appropriate candidates for consideration of RRSO based on family history, the researchers wrote. After testing, 100% of these individuals were appropriate candidates for RRSO.

Finally, onthe basis of personal or family history, only 17% of 309 individuals with CHEK2variants were considered appropriate for earlier and more frequent colonoscopyprior to genetic testing the remaining 83% were only considered appropriatecandidates after receiving genetic testing.

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Testing for Genetic Variants Informed the Use of Cancer Risk Assessments - Cancer Therapy Advisor

Hello,

Welcome to a very special mid-week edition of Dispensed, in which the smell of pies baking is already starting to fill the air and we're looking forward to a long weekend filled with Thanksgiving treats.

Are you new to the newsletter? You cansign uphere.

Allow us to fuel some conversations for your weekends with family and friends.

At HLTH, I spoke with 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki and Ancestry CEO Margo Georgiadis, and one of the big questions I had was about the "softness" hitting the direct-to-consumer genetics market.

The market for consumer genetics while making its way into pop culture, thanks, Lizzo hasn't grown at the clip companies expected it to.

Here's a look at their respective strategies as well as a check-in with what's going on at Helix, which initially set out to be the "app store" of genetics for consumers.

Hollis Johnson/Business Insider

I've also personally shipped my spit off to a number of these players. In time for the inevitable holiday rush, here's my most recent thoughts about what you should keep in mind when sending in a spit sample (beyond, of course, the privacy considerations).

You can find more detailed reviews of what I learned from 23andMe and Ancestryhere.

It's Clarrie Feinstein's final day with us as her fellowship wraps up! We're going to miss having her in the office.

For her final post, she profiled a company looking to change the way radiologists practice.

Elsewhere, Joseph Zeballos-Roig took a look at an important element of the Medicare for All debate: how much doctors and hospitals will get paid. He spoke to folks who ran through the caveats that will need to be kept in mind during what would likely be a bumpy transition.

Allana Akhtar, Business Insider's jobs reporter, spoke with nurses who told her which questions patients shouldn't hesitate to ask their doctors.

Zach Tracer and I will be at the Forbes Healthcare Summit in New York next Thursday. Be sure to say hi if you see us milling about! As always, you can reach me at lramsey@businessinsider.com and the entire healthcare team at healthcare@businessinsider.com.

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. This year, I'm grateful for you, dear readers. See you in December!

- Lydia

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Dispensed Business Insider weekly healthcare newsletter November 26 - Business Insider

Simply put, the so-called central dogma of biology asserts that genetic information flows from DNA to RNA to proteins, and once that information is passed to a protein, it cannot be returned as DNA or RNA again. It's dubbed the central dogma because it seems to be universal amongst all living organisms. There are some exceptions to the linear flow described in the popular version of the central dogma information can be passed back and forth between RNA and DNA or between DNA and DNA or RNA and RNA, but the central players remain the same: DNA, RNA, and proteins.

But what if this didn't have to be the case? Could genetic information be stored in media other than the two nucleic acids of DNA and RNA? New research published in the Journal of Chemical Information and Modeling suggests that there might not be just a handful of alternative molecules for storing genetic information, but millions.

The central dogma of biology asserts that the genetic information is transcribed from DNA to RNA, which then translates that information into useful products like proteins. This new research, however, suggests that DNA and RNA are just two options out of millions of others.

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Analogues to nucleic acids exist, many of which serve as the foundation for important drugs for treating viruses like HIV and hepatitis as well as for treating cancers, but until recently, no one was sure of how many unknown nucleic acid analogues could be out there.

"There are two kinds of nucleic acids in biology," said co-author Jim Cleaves, "and maybe 20 or 30 effective nucleic acid-binding nucleic acid analogues. We wanted to know if there is one more to be found or even a million more. The answer is, there seem to be many more than was expected."

Cleaves and colleagues decided to conduct a chemical space analysis in essence, a sophisticated computer technique that generates all possible molecules that adhere to a set of defined criteria. In this case, the criteria were to find compounds that could serve as nucleic acid analogues and as a means of storing genetic information.

"We were surprised by the outcome of this computation," said co-author Markus Meringer. "It would be very difficult to estimate a priori that there are more than a million nucleic acidlike scaffolds. Now we know, and we can start looking into testing some of these in the lab."

Though no specific analogues were targeted in this paper, it does present a long list of candidates to be explored for use as drugs for serious diseases like HIV or cancer. A more intriguing possibility suggested by the research is that life itself may have taken its very first steps using one of these alternative compounds.

Many scientists believe that before DNA became the dominant means of storing genetic information, life used RNA to code genetic data and pass it down to offspring. In part, this is because RNA can directly produce proteins, which DNA can't do on its own, and because it's a simpler structure than DNA. Over time, life likely started to opt for using DNA for storage due to its greater stability and to rely on RNA as a kind of middleman for producing proteins. But RNA on its own is still a very complicated compound and is fairly unstable; in all likelihood, something simpler came before RNA, possibly using some of the nucleic acid analogues identified in this study.

Not only does this shed light on how life may have started on Earth, but it also has implications for alien life as well. Co-author Jay Goodwin said, "It is truly exciting to consider the potential for alternate genetic systems based on these analogous nucleosides that these might possibly have emerged and evolved in different environments, perhaps even on other planets or moons within our solar system. These alternate genetic systems might expand our conception of biology's 'central dogma' into new evolutionary directions, in response and robust to increasingly challenging environments here on Earth."

When we search for extraterrestrial life, often we're looking for signs of RNA and DNA, but this may be an excessively narrow scope. After all, if millions of alternatives exist, there would need to be something very special indeed for life to universally favor using just DNA and RNA.

Related Articles Around the Web

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'One among millions': DNA is not the only genetic molecule - Big Think

A DNA test can reveal surprising facts about us certain genes make us more inclined to have dry earwax, for example, and others make us more likely to sneeze when we see a bright light. Some genes even result in people being more attractive targets for mosquitoes, so if youve ever felt personally singled out by the insect during the summer months, its not a cruel conspiracy its your DNA.

Innocuous facts like these were what DNA kits were used for finding out when they first became commercially available. However, as the tests have become more sophisticated, the companies behind them have shifted their marketing focus. Users of at-home DNA tests have been known to uncover deep-rooted facts about themselves, from discovering long-lost relatives to learning of their ancestors origins and their susceptibility to genetic diseases.

Finding out that you have a pre-existing health condition might not seem like the best idea for a Christmas present, but that hasnt stopped the test kits from enjoying a surge in popularity. MIT Technology Review estimates that by the start of 2019, more than 26 million people had taken an at-home ancestry test. The market is expected to be worth $45bn by 2024.

Nevertheless, despite the emerging industrys rampant growth, there have been mounting concerns that its practices could infringe on consumers rights. Whenever people fork out $100 to $200 for a DNA test, the hidden cost of that transaction is their personal data which, from then on, is held in the databases of a private company. Once these companies obtain genetic information, its very difficult for users to get it back.

By taking DNA tests at home, many have unwittingly stumbled upon long-kept family secrets. Some have seen their parents go through a bitter divorce after their test revealed they were actually conceived through an affair

Ignorance is blissLong before people were able to take DNA tests from the comfort of their own home, psychologists worried about their possible impact on peoples mental health. Ever since the Human Genome Project was started in 1990, many scholars have maintained that DNA tests should be used with caution, on the grounds that understanding ones own health risks could lead to anxiety or depression.

Conversely, a study by the Hastings Centre found that discovering an increased risk of developing Alzheimers disease did not make people more depressed or anxious. And in the event that people discover a particularly urgent health risk like a mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, which puts individuals at a high risk of developing cancer at a young age any adverse psychological effects are presumably worth it to obtain this life-saving information.

However, at-home DNA tests could still pose a risk to mental health, in part because they remove medical professionals from the equation. Adrian Mark Thorogood, Academic Associate at the Centre of Genomics and Policy, warned that this is far from best practice for receiving a DNA test result. Results should be communicated through a medical professional who can interpret the result in the individuals specific context, and offer a clear description of the tests limits, he told The New Economy.

Without a professionals assistance, users could be left alone to battle with a troubling revelation about their health. There is also a danger that without guidance, some people could misinterpret their test result, placing undue stress on their mental health.

There is another unpleasant discovery that people can make through a DNA test one they may be even less prepared for. By taking DNA tests at home, many have unwittingly stumbled upon long-kept family secrets. Some have seen their parents go through a bitter divorce after their test revealed they were actually conceived through an affair. Others have discovered they were conceived by rape and that their mother decided to never tell them. What began as a seemingly harmless urge to find out more about their heritage ends in psychological trauma and family breakdown.

Brianne Kirkpatrick, a genetics counsellor, is part of a growing sector of therapy specifically tailored towards helping people come to terms with receiving unexpected DNA results. One cant help but wonder whether her patients end up wishing theyd never taken the test at all.

I dont recall anyone saying they wish they could go back and not learn the truth, Kirkpatrick said. But I have had a number of people say to me they wish they had found out their shocking information from a person, rather than a computer.

While we might think wed prefer to suffer a DNA leak than a leak of our credit card details, genetic data has its own unique set of complications

The fact that virtually anyone can now find out their real parentage through a simple DNA test has wide-reaching repercussions for the accountability of paternity. Historically, men have always had a much greater ability to conceal their status as a parent, as they dont have to bear the child. The world of direct-to-consumer DNA testing blows this capacity for anonymity out of the water.

This is particularly problematic when it comes to sperm donation. Anonymity is a key selling point for many potential donors, but now all their future biological offspring has to do is swab the inside of their cheek to completely compromise that anonymity. Research suggests that we could see a drop in donor rates as a result. A 2016 study in the Journal of Law and the Biosciences found that 29 percent of potential donors would actually refuse to donate if their name was put on a registry.

The wave of parental discoveries made through direct-to-consumer DNA tests raises questions about where the responsibility of the seller sits in all this. Most health professionals recommend that individuals seek out genetics counselling once they receive DNA results. Some, like Invitae, offer counselling services but arent direct-to-consumer companies. Many of those that are including 23andMe do not offer such a service. It could be argued that this shows a certain disregard for the consequences of using their product. Unfortunately, irresponsible decisions like this have tended to characterise the industrys path to success.

Genetic Wild WestIn September 2019, 17 former employees from the Boston-based genetic testing company Orig3n accused the firm of giving consumers inaccurate results. Allegedly, if a customer took the same test twice, their results could be extremely different each time. A former lab technician produced a leaked report to Bloomberg Businessweek that revealed 407 errors like this hadoccurred over a period of three months.

Part of Orig3ns USP was that it offered advice supposedly calculated based on a consumers genetic profile. Former employees have cast doubt over the companys modus operandi by claiming that the advice they gave was in fact routinely lifted from the internet. The advice given ranged from the technically correct but uninspired to the broadly unhelpful such as telling people to eat more kale and the utterly bogus, like advising clients to eat more sugar to eliminate stretch marks.

Although Orig3n is a relatively small player in the sector, news of this scam nonetheless illustrates how little protection consumers have in this nascent market. Analysts say we are currently witnessing a Wild West period in the consumer genetics space thanks to a lack of regulation, raising concerns over whether we can trust these companies with our genetic data. While we might think wed prefer to suffer a DNA leak than a leak of our credit card details, genetic data has its own unique set of complications.

In the United States, if my social security number is stolen, that is difficult, but not impossible, to get frozen, changed, etc, said Natalie Ram, an associate professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and a specialist in bioethics and criminal justice. But theres literally no way to change your genetic code.

Genetics platforms like 23andMe, AncestryDNA and FamilyTreeDNA are now sitting on a goldmine of very personal data. In 2013, a 23andMe board member told Fast Company that it wanted to become the Google of personalised healthcare. If this statement makes anything clear, its that the company wasnt planning on making its millions simply by selling DNA test kits: its mission was always to amass significant amounts of data on its users, which it could then monetise.

There is a wide range of reasons why companies might want to buy genetic data. Perhaps the most benign is medical research, which genetics platforms allow users to opt in or out of. But other companies might use your genetic data to better sell you products or, conversely, deny them to you for instance, one sector that would see a clear monetary value in obtaining genetic data is insurance. In the US, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 prevents employers and health insurers from using a persons genetic information when making decisions about hiring, firing or raising rates. However, this does not include life insurance or short or long-term disability insurance.

At first glance, it seems as if theres a simple solution: if users are concerned about these risks, they should just choose for their data to be kept anonymous. However, choosing this option is not as foolproof as it once was. As long ago as 2009, researchers demonstrated that they could correctly identify between 40 and 60 percent of all participants in supposedly anonymous DNA databases by comparing large sets of that data with public datasets from censuses or voter lists. Since that experiment, DNA databases have grown massively.

With access to four to five million DNA profiles, upwards of 90 percent of Americans of European descent will be identifiable, said Ram. Its verging on a comprehensive DNA database that no US state or jurisdiction has suggested would be appropriate.

Shaping the lawWith comforting statements like your privacy is very important to us (ancestry.co.uk) and we wont share your DNA (familytreedna.com) emblazoned on their websites, some genetics platforms seem to be making privacy their number one priority. In the US, 23andMe and Ancestry are part of the Coalition for Genetic Data Protection, which lobbies for privacy protection in the DNA space. However, while the coalition advocates genetic data privacy in a specific context, it argues for a one-size-fits-all policy concerning all data. By comparison, the EUs General Data Protection Regulation regards genetic information as personal data, which makes DNA unique from other kinds of data.

There is a fundamental legal problem with boxing genetic data in with all other varieties, including the data that social media websites collect about us. In most cases, what a person does on the internet implicates them alone genetic data is different. We share our DNA with members of our family, which means that sharing it without their consent can be problematic.

Even if I can consent to using my DNA to identify me, that should not extend to my ability to consent to using my DNA to identify my relatives, said Ram. The reason I think thats a really critical distinction is because genetic relatedness is almost always involuntarily foisted upon us. So we dont choose our parents, we dont choose how many siblings we have. Its a product of biology, not a product of choice.

The legal issues surrounding genetic relatedness were put to the test in 2018 when police discovered the true identity of the Golden State Killer, who terrorised California in the 1970s and 1980s in a homicidal spree. Law enforcement officials were able to convict him only because they had succeeded in connecting the DNA of the suspect with that of a family relative on GEDmatch, a genetic database in the public domain. Across the US and around the world, people celebrated the arrest of a notorious criminal. The only problem was that the means of capturing him was not necessarily legal.

Prior to the case, GEDmatchs site policy made no explicit reference to the potential use of consumers data by law enforcement. However, the company defended itself by saying that users should have assumed it could be put to that use.

While the database was created for genealogical research, it is important that GEDmatch participants understand the possible uses of their DNA, including identification of relatives that have committed crimes or were victims of crimes, said GEDmatch operator Curtis Rogers in a statement.

Some genes even result in people being more attractive targets for mosquitoes, so if youve ever felt personally singled out by the insect during the summer months, its not a cruel conspiracy its your DNA

However, privacy advocates like Ram argue that users consent for law enforcement to look at their data should not have been assumed. At least from a constitutional perspective in the United States, individuals ought to be recognised to have whats called an expectation of privacy in their genetic data, even if they use one of these services, she told The New Economy.

After the case, genetics platforms updated their policies to clarify their position on law enforcements use of peoples data. Interestingly, they took very different stances. While 23andMe and Ancestry said they would not allow law enforcement to search through their genetic genealogy databases, FamilyTreeDNA updated its policy to say it would give up data to officials, but only in the investigation of violent crimes. Users didnt know it at the time, but FamilyTreeDNAs policy update was already too little too late: in January 2019, it was revealed that the company had been secretly working with the FBI for nearly a year to solve serious crimes, without informing its users.

The Golden State Killer case exposed how little protection consumers really had in the direct-to-consumer genetics market. It showed that genetics platforms were capable of suddenly changing or contradicting their own policies and even, in the case of FamilyTreeDNA, betraying the trust of consumers.

Some might argue that this infringement on genetic privacy is simply the price we must pay to catch dangerous criminals. Of course, without the use of a genealogy database, the Golden State Killer may never have been caught. But the fact that genetic data can be harnessed to solve very serious crimes should not justify law enforcements unbridled access to such databases. Abuses of power do happen and, in the context of direct-to-consumer DNA tests, they already have: in 2018, for example, Canadian immigration officials compelled a man to take a DNA test and upload his results to FamilyTreeDNAs website. They then used the website to find and contact some of his relatives in the UK to gather more evidence in order to deport him.

Todays consumers are continually adjusting to shrinking levels of privacy. From the introduction of video surveillance and the mapping of residential areas on Google Earth to the revelation that Facebook harvests vast amounts of user data, we have seen the public react in the same way again and again: there is an initial public outcry, and then consumers simply adjust to the new level of diminished privacy. Our response to the rise of genetics platforms risks the issue being consigned to the same fate.

It is up to regulators to protect individuals right to privacy. While our genetic data may be something of a genie out of the bottle, that should not give the companies that collect it free rein over who sees it and what they choose to do with it.

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Collection of genetic data leads to privacy concerns - The New Economy

If youre going through IVF, you may be offered a test to look at your embryos chromosomes.

Pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (chromosome abnormalities), known as PGT-A, is an add on used to help choose embryos with the right number of chromosomes. Its promoted by IVF clinics as a way to increase the chance of success, especially for women over 35.

But the evidence shows that in most cases, PGT-A doesnt improve the chance of a baby.

Read more: The business of IVF: how human eggs went from simple cells to a valuable commodity

Human cells usually contain 46 chromosomes. Aneuploidy is a term that describes a chromosome number that is different from 46 either too many or too few chromosomes.

In human embryos, most aneuploidies are lethal, resulting in miscarriage, or do not result in pregnancy at all.

The chance of aneuploidy increases with the age of the woman; by the time a woman reaches age 40, approximately 80% of her embryos are aneuploid.

All couples produce some aneuploid embryos, whether they conceive naturally or with IVF. The idea behind PGT-A is that if the aneuploid embryos can be identified they can be discarded, so that only embryos capable of producing a healthy pregnancy are used.

PGT-A involves the woman having fertility drugs to produce several eggs. When they are mature, they are retrieved and mixed with sperm to create embryos.

Embryos are grown in the laboratory for five to six days. At this time, two types of cells are distinguishable: the cells that will develop into the placenta and the cells that will become the baby.

Read more: Considering using IVF to have a baby? Here's what you need to know

A few cells are removed from the future placenta for testing and the embryos are frozen until test results are available.

If the test shows there are normal embryos, one is thawed and transferred to the womans uterus. Any remaining normal embryos will be kept frozen for transfer later if the first transfer is unsuccessful.

Importantly, PGT-A doesnt correct chromosomally abnormal embryos, it simply allows couples to avoid transferring them.

Many clinics recommend PGT-A for women over 35 (more than half of women who have IVF) and those who have had repeated miscarriages or failed IVF treatments. This is because women over 35 and women with previous losses are more likely to produce aneuploid embryos.

While the theory behind PFT-A makes sense, randomised controlled trials (the gold standard evidence to tell us if an intervention makes a difference) have not demonstrated a clear benefit.

Of the two most recent trials of PGT-A, one reported fewer embryo transfers and fewer miscarriages in the PGT-A group but neither showed benefits in terms of improving the live-birth rate.

PGT-A actually has the potential to reduce the chance of a baby. It can do this in two ways.

First, PGT-A is not 100% accurate. This means that inevitably, some embryos that have the capacity to form a healthy baby will be discarded.

The most common reason for these false positive results is that a proportion of embryos are mosaic they have a mix of normal and abnormal cells. Surprisingly, mosaic chromosome abnormalities are quite common in early human embryos, and do not seem to prevent the embryo developing into a healthy baby.

However, if abnormal cells are removed and tested, the embryo will be misclassified as abnormal and discarded a lost opportunity for a healthy pregnancy.

Read more: Fertility miracle or fake news? Understanding which IVF 'add-ons' really work

Many healthy babies have been born to people who have elected to have mosaic embryos transferred because they were the only embryos they had.

In a recent study of 98 women who had mosaic embryos, 32 (33%) elected to have at least one transferred. Of these, 11 (34%) had a successful pregnancy with apparently healthy babies born.

Second, while the risk is small, embryos can be damaged in the biopsy procedure and some embryos dont survive the freezing and thawing process.

PGT-A costs around A$700 per embryo which adds up to A$2,800 if there are four embryos to test.

While doctors likely offer their patients detailed and individualised information about different treatment options, information about the possible benefits of PGT-A on clinic websites can be difficult to interpret.

Thats why independent information about the pros and cons of PGT-A is needed to help people make informed decisions. The Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority (VARTA) has developed a downloadable resource about the current state of knowledge about PGT-A.

Some clinics are now offering a less invasive technique where, rather than removing cells from the embryo, they test the fluid that the embryo is grown in to determine if the embryo has the right number of chromosomes. Time will tell of this will improve the chance of having a baby with IVF.

In the meantime, it may help to ask the five questions recommended by Choosing Wisely:

And in the case of IVF: how will this improve my chance of a live birth?

Read more: Your questions answered on donor conception and IVF

See the article here:
Genetic testing IVF embryos doesn't improve the chance of a baby - The Conversation AU